Ok I just watched one of my all time favorite Stephen King novels. I loved the 1979 version which I watched eagerly when I was 15 years old. I had been anticipating watching this for quite a while at least since the whispers started that a remake was coming. The movie was not terrible I gave it a six (that may be to generous) because the movie was watchable. I had so hoped it would be remade with the kind of money writing acting everything that "It" had when the last remake was done. Everything was just a little off with this movie. The acting was just ok. Character development was pretty non existent. They could have done a lot better on developing some interest in the characters. I think it was to rushed toward the end the drive in ending was terrible some should have pumped the brakes hard on that one! Why? Why remake something if not to make it outstanding! Stephen King is an awesome writer and if the production is done correctly then it should be awesome. Very disappointed ...

I enjoyed this, mainly because I loved the book as a teenager and enjoyed the TV mini-series with the wonderful David Soul.

It's pretty faithful to the original story, even being set in a mid-70s America that we remember from our childhoods but doesn't seem to exist anymore. Simpler times.

The only criticism I'd have is that while the TV mini-series gave the story a lot of room to build suspense and reveal the horror of Mr. Barlow, this film has to rush through the story which loses a lot. If you've never read the book or watched the earlier adaptation, this may feel like a generic low-budget vampire movie and fail to impress.

For fans, it's like pulling on your favourite sweater and immediately feeling that familiarity.

The cast are relatively unknowns. You'll recognise some of them but avoiding any big stars is a really good choice as it allows you to simply enjoy the movie for what it is.

Overall, it was nice to go back to Salem's Lot!

I loved the book when I read it in the 80's and looked forward to this movie but I was let down.

I'm not a purist and don't usually mind different interpretations of a fictional story, but the changes weren't really the worst parts, that would be the bland storytelling and the movie just felt rushed.

There was no character development whatsoever, the acting was mediocre, though Alfre Woodard stood out and I wish she was shown more as she was the best part of the movie for me, though she was hardly in it, and I can't say it enough, there was nothing really happening with the story to keep me interested.

A little backstory on anyone would have been nice, an actual view of the budding romance that was taking place to help us actually feel the main characters grief, anything at all other than the bland scenes we got.

Unfortunately an utterly forgettable film.

Not Recommended.